Search Results (41)

Danube River represents a critical axis of ecological and economic importance for the countries along its course. From this perspective, this paper aims to assess the most significant characteristics of the river and of its main tributaries, as well as its impact on the environmental sustainability and socio-economic development. Navigation and the economic contribution of the Danube River are the key issues of this work, emphasizing its importance as an international transport artery that facilitates trade and tourism, and develops the energy industry through hydropower plants. The study includes an analysis of the volume of goods transported from 2019 to 2023, as well as an analysis of the goods traffic in the busiest port on the Danube. Furthermore, climate change affects the hydrological regime of the Danube, as well as the ecosystems, economy, and energy security of the riparian countries. Main impacts include changes in the hydrological regime, increased frequency of droughts and floods, reduced water quality, deterioration of biodiversity, and disruption of the economic activities dependent on the river, such as navigation, agriculture, and hydropower production. Thus, hydrological risks and challenges are investigated, focusing on the extreme events of the last two decades and the awareness of their repercussions. In this context, the national and international institutions responsible for monitoring and managing the Danube are presented, and their role in promoting a sustainable river policy is explored. Methods and technologies are shown to be essential tools for monitoring and prediction studies. The Danube includes an extensive network of hydrometric stations that help to prevent and manage the most significant risks. Finally, a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of the development of the hydrological studies was conducted, highlighting the potential of the river. Full article

Monitoring the evolution of freshwater lakes is critical for understanding and mitigating eutrophication, a major environmental issue driven by excessive nutrient inputs, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus. This study focuses on Lake Lanalhue, where rising frequencies and intensities of algal blooms highlight significant ecological imbalances. By evaluating spatio-temporal variations in water quality and quantity parameters, meteorological conditions, and land use changes, we aim to uncover the drivers of eutrophication and their complex interactions. Nutrient concentrations, dissolved oxygen levels, and phytoplankton biomass are analyzed alongside hydrological parameters such as water level, volume, and surface area. The influence of meteorological factors, including temperature, precipitation, and wind speed, is assessed to determine their role in stratification, mixing, and nutrient cycling. Additionally, land use changes in the watershed, such as urbanization and agricultural practices, are examined to understand external nutrient inputs. This integrative approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms driving changes in Lake Lanalhue, offering critical insights into the development of sustainable management strategies to mitigate eutrophication and its ecological and socio-economic impacts. Full article

The study of urban floods is increasingly crucial due to their growing frequency and impact on densely populated areas, often characterized by inadequate drainage and located in flood-prone zones. The consequences extend beyond physical damage, significantly affecting economies and livelihoods, necessitating substantial economic resources for recovery and infrastructure rebuilding. Urban planning now must integrate flood risk management, emphasizing not only infrastructural resilience but also comprehensive policies that address environmental and social vulnerabilities to better prepare and protect urban environments against future flood risks. This study addresses the critical issue of urban flood vulnerability through a focused analysis of Morelia, a city known for its susceptibility to flooding due to its geographical and hydrological characteristics and accelerated urban growth. Employing a multifaceted approach that integrates hydrological, socio-economic, and land use data within a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) framework, the research develops a Spatial Flood Vulnerability Index (SFVI). This index is meticulously applied at the urban block level, offering a precise mapping of flood risks across the city. By correlating the SFVI results with historical flood data, the study identifies the most vulnerable areas in Morelia, which are primarily impacted due to their proximity to water bodies, economic density, and infrastructural settings. The methodology not only highlights immediate flood risks but also aids in strategic urban planning to enhance resilience against future flooding events. This paper contributes a novel approach to flood risk assessment, providing a replicable model for similarly affected cities worldwide, aiming to balance structural measures with strategic planning tailored to local needs. Full article

The implementation of large-scale water infrastructure projects, such as the São Francisco River Integration Project with the Northeastern Hydrographic Basins (PISF), causes territorial transformations of great proportions, constituting a new hydrosocial cycle, resulting in hydrosocial territories in which not only water but also power relations and socioeconomic and physical resources circulate. In this sense, this article aims to historically analyze the interconnection between water and land issues in the Brazilian Northeast, shedding light on the territorial dynamics produced by the new hydrosocial cycle constituted by the implementation of the largest water project in the country. To this end, we interviewed actors from different groups and in various locations, conducted on-site field research, and collected and systematically analyzed important documents from the institutional websites of the Brazilian government. The main results of the research indicate that since the implementation of the PISF, a context of deep and historical political and socioeconomic inequalities in hydrosocial territories has been impacted, which has deepened conflicts over land and water and increased socio-spatial injustices. Contrary to most available approaches, which consider water scarcity a ‘natural’ (hydrological) problem that requires technical and administrative solutions, the water problem reflects the profound asymmetry of power consolidated over time and the strength of the reactionary agrarian sectors that control the State apparatus. Full article

Water resource management in agriculture faces complex challenges due to increasing scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, and the intensification of conflicts among various user groups. This study addresses the issue of predicting and managing these conflicts in the Longaví River Basin, Chile, by considering the intricate interactions between hydrological, social, and economic factors. A socio-hydrological agent-based model (SHABM) was developed, integrating hydrological, economic, and behavioral data. The methodology combined fieldwork with computational modeling, characterizing three types of agents (selfish, neutral, and cooperative) and simulating scenarios with varying levels of water availability and oversight across three water user organizations (WUOs). The key findings revealed that (1) selfish agents are more likely to disregard irrigation schedules under conditions of scarcity and low supervision; (2) high supervision (90%) significantly reduces conflicts; (3) water scarcity exacerbates non-cooperative behaviors; (4) high-risk conflict areas can be identified; and (5) behavioral patterns stabilize after the third year of simulation. This work demonstrates the potential of SHABM as a decision-making tool in water management, enabling the proactive identification of conflict-prone areas and the evaluation of management strategies. Full article

Like many coastal lagoons in several countries, the “Navío Quebrado” lagoon (La Guajira, Colombia) is a very delicate and precious environment; indeed, it is a nationally recognized Flora and Fauna Sanctuary. Several factors, including climate change, are threatening its existence because of changes in the governing hydro-morphological and biological processes. Certainly, the first step to addressing this problem is to understand its hydrological behavior and to be able to replicate, via simulation, its recent history before inferring likely futures. These potential futures will be marked by changes in the water input by its tributary, the Camarones River, and by modified water exchange with the sea, according to a foreseen sea level rise pattern, as well as by a different evaporation rate from the free surface, according to temperature changes. In order to achieve the required ability to simulate future scenarios, data on the actual behavior have to be gathered, i.e., a monitoring system has to be set up, which to date is non-existent. Conceptually, designing a suitable monitoring system is not a complex issue and seems easy to implement. However, the environmental, socio-cultural, and socio-economic context makes every little step a hard climb. An extremely simple—almost “primitive”—monitoring system has been set up in this case, which is based on very basic measurements of river flow velocity and water levels (river, lagoon, and sea) and the direct participation of local stakeholders, the most important of which is the National Park unit of the Sanctuary. All this may clash with the latest groovy advances of science, such as in situ automatized sensors, remote sensing, machine learning, and digital twins, and several improvements are certainly possible and desirable. However, it has a strong positive point: it provides surprisingly reasonable data and operates at almost zero additional cost. Several technical difficulties made this exercise interesting and worthy of being shared. Its novelty lies in showing how old, simple methods may offer a working solution to new challenges. This humble experience may be of help in several other similar situations across the world. Full article

In recent years, significant advancements have been made in the field of social water research. This is especially reflected in the emergence and consolidation of three influential theoretical approaches in hydrology, human geography, and anthropology: socio-hydrology, hydrosocial theory, and the multiple ontologies of water, respectively. While the present paper acknowledges the great merits of each of these perspectives, it starts from the identification of two important shortcomings in current social water research: the dispersion of the literature in distinct disciplinary sub-fields and the lack of specifically sociological approaches to hydrosocial issues. Accordingly, the aim of this paper is twofold: to offer a “big picture” of current social water research from a sociological–theoretical perspective and to initiate a fruitful conversation between sociologists and social water researchers from other disciplines. Full article

Addressing the inadequacy of theoretical frameworks and evaluation indicators for assessing the health of seasonal rivers in arid and semi-arid regions, this study aims to enrich the theoretical foundation for the management and ecological restoration of seasonal river systems. By selecting seven indicators from three aspects: hydrology, habitat, and social services, a seasonal river health assessment indicator system was constructed for the Tabu River basin. The weights of the indicators were determined using the analytic hierarchy process and entropy weight method, and a classification standard for seasonal river health was established. The health status of the Tabu River in 2021 was evaluated accordingly. The results revealed that the upstream, midstream, and downstream reaches of the Tabu River were categorized as healthy, sub-healthy, and diseased, respectively, with poor hydrological conditions being the primary concern. The satisfaction level of ecological flow within the basin was low, accompanied by deep groundwater levels and water scarcity issues, aligning with the actual situation. This indicator system effectively reflects the true state of seasonal river ecosystems. Based on the evaluation results, measures such as establishing ecological water storage projects and adjusting agricultural planting structures were proposed to alleviate the impacts caused by water scarcity. Additionally, implementing river and lake management systems, water resource protection measures, and water-saving technologies can directly regulate the pressures imposed on rivers by human socio-economic activities, thus alleviating regional water resource shortages and promoting the health of rivers and regional water resources. These findings provide scientific decision-making support for the management of seasonal river basins and the maintenance of river health. Full article

To address the issue of seasonal water resource shortages in Nanchang City, a multi-system coupling socio-hydrology simulation method was proposed. This approach involves dynamically integrating a centralized socio-economic model with a distributed surface water groundwater numerical model to explore the intricate relationships between the socio-economic system, the surface water–groundwater integrated system, and the outcomes related to seasonal water resource shortages. Taking Nanchang City as an example, this study conducted research on the water resource supply and demand balance, as well as the groundwater emergency supply, using the multi-system coupling model. Three scenarios were established: status quo, developing, and water-saving. The results show that with the increasing total water demand of social and economic development, the severity of the water resource shortage will be most pronounced in 2030. The minimum water resources supply and demand ratios for the status quo, developing, and water-saving scenarios are projected to be 0.68, 0.52, and 0.77, respectively. To meet residents’ water needs during drought conditions, emergency groundwater supply efforts are investigated. According to the simulation results, groundwater emergency supply would increase the total population by 24.0 thousand, 49.4 thousand, and 11.2 thousand people, respectively, in the status quo, developing, and water-saving scenarios. In the water-saving scenario, the Youkou and Xiebu water sources can serve as suitable emergency water sources. In the status quo scenario, the Youkou water source is the most viable emergency water source. However, in the developing scenario, relying solely on any single water source for emergency supply could have an irreversible impact on the aquifer. Therefore, considering the simultaneous use of multiple water sources is recommended, as it can fulfill water demands while ensuring the sustainable utilization of groundwater resources. Full article

The concepts of green infrastructures, nature-based solutions and ecosystem services are today considered an integral part of the broader theme of the urban bioregion, with an intrinsic character of complexity. It is certainly difficult to structure bioregional processes in a balanced and sustainable way, able to keep local energy production and consumption cycles closed. It is a complex issue of knowledge bases, and problems are increased by the participatory dimension of environmental planning. In fact, when rational planning models have failed in the face of prominent individual needs and environmental complexity, a path has emerged towards the inclusion of multiple citizens’ and stakeholders’ knowledge. The cognitive structure of the plans has thus changed from systems of exclusively expert, formal knowledge to systems of diffused, multi-agent knowledge. This has involved richness but also significant problems in understanding and managing knowledge bases. In this complexity, there are some common peculiarities when it comes to socio-environmental systems. A common feature of the reference domains of ecosystem services, nature-based solutions and green infrastructures is the water resource. A management model of hydrological data, which are structurally relevant and cross-sectoral in environmental planning actions, could represent a flagship initiative. The used approach could be conveyed to more complex and extensive areas of the environmental domain in a perspective of sustainable planning. The present paper is part of a research work oriented toward handling complex environmental subjects, such as green infrastructures, nature-based solutions or ecosystem services, with a knowledge modelling approach. This approach is based on semantic extensions, elaborated form the concept of semantic web, to allow shared interpretations of knowledge coming from different languages and scientific domains. It is also based on using applied ontologies, elaborated from the concept of ontology-based classification, to support a structured organization of knowledge contents. The main research objective is therefore to investigate about a knowledge management system with semantic extensions, populated with hydrological knowledge contents, as well as to propose a preliminary functional architecture. A simple ontology of data is extracted, aiming at clarifying and improving inter-domain communication, so as to enhance a common semantic understanding in a complex environmental system. Full article

Over the last decades, the quality and quantity of the Mediterranean freshwater resources have significantly deteriorated due to climate change, unsustainable utilization, user conflicts, and seawater intrusions. On the small and remote island of Vis, where similar issues prevail, the need for alternative water management solutions has yielded managed aquifer recharge (MAR) as a promising option for increasing the safety and resilience of the local and autonomous water supply. By performing a cost–benefit analysis (CBA) to evaluate the feasibility of the deployment of an infiltration pond method in the Korita well field, the results evidenced a positive financial performance and sustainability of the proposed MAR solution. In addition, the overall economic benefits of the project, quantified through the willingness-to-pay method, significantly exceeded its costs, as evidenced by the high benefit/cost ratio of 2.83. The most significant uncertainty related to the infiltration pond method is represented by the high sensitivity to changes in the applied hydrological assumptions (i.e., the evaporation coefficient and number of annual infiltration pond recharges). This study aims to contribute to the understanding of interrelated socio-economic factors of MAR projects in karst aquifers, and represents the first of its kind in Croatia. Full article

The geological heritage of Australia’s landscapes and World Heritage areas has generally been underpromoted to the public by the tourism industry. However, in 2008, the fledgling world of geotourism in Australia received a significant boost with two events: the Inaugural Global Geotourism Conference ‘Discover the Earth beneath our Feet’ held in Fremantle, Western Australia, and the declaration of the UNESCO Kanawinka Global Geopark, which linked volcanic regions in South Australia and Victoria. Simultaneously the Australian Federal Government launched the ‘Australian National Landscapes’ (ANL) program. However, this impetus was not sustained when the Kanawinka Global Geopark was deregistered as a UNESCO-branded geopark in 2012, and the ANL program faded within a decade. Despite these setbacks, as an outcome of the 2008 Fremantle conference, several productive lines of geotourism have developed across Australia. This paper reviews the history of Australian geotourism since 2008. It examines the impacts of the experiences, lessons learned, problems for geology as perceived by National Parks and the Environment movement, geological communication problems, and the subsequent evolution of Australian geotourism. From these issues, new non-government bodies and initiatives have arisen, including the Australian Geoparks Network, the Australian Geoscience Council, and the recent development of a National Geotourism Strategy. Strong elements emerging from these initiatives are the increasing development of geotrails (which suit the large Australian continent) and the new Australian concept of ‘GeoRegions’. These are in response to an awareness that geotourism requires a flexible outlook to widen the appreciation and appeal of geological heritage and landscapes to the broader public. A further new direction is suggested: for Australian geotourism to combine with some elements of ICOMOS Cultural Routes. An outstanding example, the ICOMOS Overland Telegraph Line (OTL) Cultural Route that crosses Australia from south to north, is considered. For 2000 km, the construction of this line in the 1870s followed the regional geology and hydrology, relying upon the available biota but bringing about a clash of human cultures. The six colonies of Australia were finally linked to the world by wire, but the arrival of the OTL had a significant impact on the country’s Indigenous inhabitants. In Australia and globally, geotourism is incorporating the A–B–Cs (abiotic, biotic and cultural elements) to more effectively encourage the public to value their landscapes and the associated stories. The OTL provides an example of a newly introduced fourth dimension for geotourism, which gives consideration to the socio-political context of landscape adaptation. Full article

Water supply and demand management (WSDM) is essential for developing sustainable cities and societies. WSDM is only effective when tackled from the perspective of a holistic system understanding that considers social, environmental, hydrological, and economic (SEHEc) sub-systems. System dynamics modeling (SDM) is recommended by water resource researchers as it models the biophysical and socio-economic systems simultaneously. This study presents a comprehensive literature review of SDM applications in sustainable WSDM. The reviewed articles were methodologically analyzed considering SEHEc sub-systems and the type of modeling approach used. This study revealed that problem conceptualization using the causal loop diagram (CLD) was performed in only 58% of the studies. Moreover, 70% of the reviewed articles used the stock flow diagram (SFD) to perform a quantitative system analysis. Furthermore, stakeholder engagement plays a significant role in understanding the core issues and divergent views and needs of users, but it was incorporated by only 36% of the studies. Although climate change significantly affects water management strategies, only 51% of the reviewed articles considered it. Although the scenario analysis is supported by simulation models, they further require the optimization models to yield optimal key parameter values. One noticeable finding is that only 12% of the articles used quantitative models to complement SDM for the decision-making process. The models included agent-based modeling (ABM), Bayesian networking (BN), analytical hierarchy approach (AHP), and simulation optimization multi-objective optimization (MOO). The solution approaches included the genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). The key findings for the sustainable development of water resources included the per capita water reduction, water conservation through public awareness campaigns, the use of treated wastewater, the adoption of efficient irrigation practices including drip irrigation, the cultivation of low-water-consuming crops in water-stressed regions, and regulations to control the overexploitation of groundwater. In conclusion, it is established that SDM is an effective tool for devising strategies that enable sustainable water supply and demand management. Full article

The environmental management of rivers faces a substantial geographical problem: due to their elongate shape and their position at the valley bottom, the area that they cover is fragmented by territorial borders. Therefore, only very few river basins or substantial parts of them have yet been assigned as dedicated sites (nature reserves, parks, etc.). Commonly, these sites occur in a scattered pattern within the riverscape and belong to different administrative units, which makes coordinated conservation and management difficult. Moreover, access to documented results is limited, and the practical experience of site managers remains an unexploited source of knowledge. Here, we compare two sites, the Loire valley (with a large zone protected by a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Natura 2000 sites network, and a French Regional Natural Park, which are partially overlapping) and the Dordogne watershed (entirely belonging to the first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of this kind and a French Public Basin Establishment). The targets concerning conservation and sustainable management of these sites differ, however, they all focus on cultural and ecological sustainability. Combining reports and interviews with the respective site managers with literature back searches, and analyzing these data with case study and content analysis methods, we addressed the following questions: (1) What are the priority management issues, including threats that impact the site from outside, and how are they tackled? (2) Who are the stakeholders and what are their interrelationships? (3) What are the dynamics of socio-ecological systems related to riverscapes? (4) How to conserve and manage riverscapes with socio-ecological approaches? and (5) What are the best management practices from the Loire River Valley and Dordogne basin cases that can be harnessed in other riverscapes? We show that the Loire River Valley and Dordogne River basin present positive examples for a transdisciplinary socio-ecological approach to conserving and managing riverscapes, integrating diverse stakeholder knowledge in participatory decision-making, recognizing the natural character of the river, and coupling social and hydrological systems. The greatest achievement of the site managers is that they have built up trust and found feasible solutions for satisfying the different interests of diverse stakeholders. Ingenuity and perseverance, combined with excellent moderation skills, were the most important characteristics leading to success. The overall target of this paper is to evidence problems and their solutions concerning the management of dedicated sites that are connected to rivers, to encourage the creation of further sites of this type, and to facilitate cooperation between different types of dedicated sites. Full article

Water treatment processes are designed to ensure that any pollutant’s adverse effects on the environment are reduced to the minimum allowable discharge limit. Water-literate individuals ought to effectively and constantly think about novel hydrologic concepts to improve the quality and sufficiency of water. Socio-hydrological issues remain the main source of water pollution and insufficiency in society. Therefore, effective water management and treatment require societal understanding. The complexity of water issues requires equipping STEM education students with the necessary knowledge to acquire water solution reasoning skills. However, STEM students need meaningful challenges with everyday connections to capture their interest to apply intuitive understanding in project-based learning. Water-related issues such as high turbidity are ubiquitous problems facing communities. This study specifically explored how project-based learning can be harnessed to enhance STEM students’ critical thinking skills using water treatment activities. The water treatment activity involved the development of novel products using agricultural wastes for efficient water treatment. The social issues associated with agricultural wastes, especially orange and banana peels in the environment, are too obvious to be overlooked; hence, they were chosen as base materials to develop water treatment products. The study adopted an action research design and involved 12 purposively selected third-year Bachelor of Science students majoring in Chemistry at a South African university. The students were divided into two groups consisting of six participants. The researchers implemented team teaching and invoked students’ knowledge of Earth Science, Physics, Chemistry, and Technology to develop and implement laboratory experimental activities and class-based lesson plans. The empirical investigation was underpinned by the Five Steps of Project-Based Learning as the underlying theoretical framework. The chemistry of the processed peels such as particle size and functional groups provided insight into the mechanism responsible for water turbidity reduction. Laboratory experimental results revealed that the turbidity reduction obtained from the use of processed banana peels was higher than the processed orange peels coagulant. However, the performance of both coagulants in turbidity reduction complied with the South African National Standard (SANS241) for drinking water quality. Full article